Tanzania: deputy opposition leader faces charges of terrorism

The deputy leader of the main opposition party of Tanzania, John Heche, is currently facing charges of terrorism a fortnight after his arrest in the capital, Dodoma.

According to the BBC on November 6th, Heche is being held in Dar es Salaam and has been informed of his charges, according to his lawyer, Hekima Mwasipu. The BBC could not confirm when he will appear in court.

The chairman of Chadema, Tundu Lissu, is in detention over treason charges, but he has denied the charges. Heche was arrested before the elections, condemned by the opposition party as a “sham.”

President Samia Suluhu Hassan was sworn in on November 3, after getting 98% of the vote. When elections took place on October 29th, it descended into chaos, with over 700 people being killed, after Hassan had stopped opposition candidates from standing, barred foreign journalists, and implemented a curfew.

Hassan’s silencing of her critics during the run-up to the elections has created a wave of anger among the people of Tanzania. Civil rights groups have denounced a “wave of terror”, and activists being abducted.

Hassan’s intentions have been questioned for a long time. According to Nairobi-based writer and political analyst, Nanjala Nyabola, it appears her presidency in Tanzania is not a force of enhanced democracy but rather a political machine, in which the least controversial candidate was selected, which would allow the ruling party, Chama Cha Mapinduzi, to continue managing the country.

Tanzania’s political system appears to leave people silenced by arrests, detentions and disappearances of critics of the state.

As for the election, on November 5th, African Union observers said the election was “compromised”, saying they saw ballot stuffing and multiple ballots being given to voters.

Despite the Union’s statements, the Tanzanian government has claimed that the election was fair and transparent.

Due to the high number of deaths that have occurred during the election. Chadema told AFP that there were “no less than 800” deaths by November 1st, although a diplomatic source in Tanzania told the BBC there was reliable evidence that at least 500 people had died.

President Samia spoke of the matter during her inauguration ceremony, acknowledging the “loss of lives and destruction of public property” and added further that it was “not surprising” that some of the people arrested were foreign nationals.

On November 5th, Heche’s lawyer told the BBC that he had visited Heche at a police station in Dar es Salaam and stated that he is not in good health. He also mentioned that a petition has been filed to seek his release on bail.

BBC, AFP, Maghrebi.org